[pjc50]

Football (soccer) is probably a poor choice of analogy, given that it has a reputation for racism - everything from bananas thown at players to blaming "immigrants" for team failures. Or even for successes - there were people complaining that the winning French team wasn't white enough.

There are no "out" male professional footballers. This is statistically implausible; the homophobia is sufficiently bad that they have to remain closeted for their career and maybe safety.

Football fans also occasionally produce "ultras" notorious for physical violence: fights with each other and the police, which can be fatal.

And here in Scotland, we've the joy of sectarianism added to the mix as well, with cheerful songs about Fenian blood.

[Uberphallus]

Yeah, I don't defend the fans, I was talking within the business. Football (soccer) all around Europe follows a don't ask, don't tell among players. They know who's what, but it's not public because of the actual shitty homophobia among the fans.